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The Pirates of Penzance had three premières: a performance to establish the British Copyright by one of D'Oyly Carte's Pinafore Touring Companies at the Royal Bijou Theatre, Paignton, Devon, on 30 December 1879; the New York première at the Fifth Avenue Theatre on 31 December 1879 and the London première at the Opéra Comique on 3 April 1880.

In early performances, the Pirate King was given the name Richard and the Sergeant of Police was called Edward. In addition, James, a pirate, appeared in the Paignton performance.

Paignton Cast

	Major-General Stanley	Richard Mansfield
	The Pirate King	F. Federici
	Frederick	Llewellyn Cadwaladr
	Samuel	G. J. Lackner
	James	John Le Hay
	Sergeant of Police	Fred Billington
	Mabel	Emilie Petrelli
	Edith	Marian May
	Isabel	Kate Neville
	Kate	Lena Monmouth
	Ruth	Fanny Harrison

New York Cast

Major-General Stanley	J. H. Ryley
The Pirate King	Mr Brocolini
Frederic	Hugh Talbot
Samuel	Furneaux Cook
Sergeant of Police	F. Clifton
Mabel	Blanche Roosevelt
Edith	Rosina Brandram
Isabel	Jessie Bond
Kate	Billie Barlow
Ruth	Alice Barnett

London Cast

	Major-General Stanley	George Grossmith
	The Pirate King	Richard Temple
	Frederic	George Power
	Samuel	George Temple
	Sergeant of Police	Rutland Barrington
	Mabel	Marion Hood
	Edith	Julia Gwynne
	Isabel	Lilian La Rue
	Kate	Neva Bond
	Ruth	Emily Cross

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